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When it comes to the culinary world, many people are undoubtedly interested in names with immense influence and value. Below are three award-winning restaurants recognized for their significant global impact, not only for the deliciousness of their food but also for the passion of their chefs conveyed through the use of fresh, seasonal ingredients. The trend of choosing seasonal ingredients is one of the most enthusiastically supported dietary trends due to the excellent health benefits they offer.
Noma - Denmark
Noma has been voted the best restaurant in the world for many consecutive years.
Noma consistently tops The World's of 50 Best Restaurants list. It's a leading restaurant in contemporary cuisine, focusing on using fresh, locally grown ingredients to create innovative and impactful dishes. Chef Redzepi, Noma's head chef, regularly uses seafood in the winter, vegetables in the summer, and game meats in the fall.
The trend of eating organic, home-grown, and locally sourced food has become a sensation in recent years. People seem to be more concerned about their health and the origin of their food than just eating something that tastes good or looks appealing. Expensive imported products and ingredients no longer seem as popular as they once were.
A close-up view of the exquisite dishes at Noma restaurant.
William Drew, Director of Content for The World's 50 Best Restaurants, commented: “Noma sets new standards for sourcing, developing, and presenting food. Noma deserves to be one of the most sought-after dining destinations in the world, and we are delighted to announce that it is the number one restaurant this year.”
An interesting fact about the restaurant is that its culinary team includes a Vietnamese chef. It's known that chef Viet Hong, born in the 1990s, has been working at Noma for quite some time and continues to do so.
l'Auberge du Pont de Collonges - France
A corner of Paul Bocuse's restaurant.
The restaurant l'Auberge du Pont de Collonges, also known by its famous alternative name named after its most influential chef, Paul Bocuse, is a long-established French restaurant specializing in authentic French cuisine. However, by 1959, the restaurant nearly went bankrupt due to its inability to keep up with the times. Traditional French dishes such as whole roasted chicken and fish, and rich, creamy sauces, were no longer in demand.
Fortunately, chef Paul Bocuse quickly took over and revived the restaurant from the brink of collapse by eliminating all the old menu items. Thanks to Paul Bocuse's efforts, the restaurant gradually gained a foothold, and people decided to use his name as a secondary name for the restaurant.
At the restaurant, the plates of food are printed with the name of the talented chef, Paul Bocuse.
Traditional French cuisine emphasizes sweetness, richness, and a high proportion of animal protein. While it has influenced many cultures, this style of eating has gradually fallen out of favor. People are increasingly seeking dishes that focus on highlighting the freshness of the ingredients, limiting richness, and achieving a balance of flavors ranging from sour, spicy, salty, and sweet to more complex layers of taste. Furthermore, the portions of dishes are also reduced. The term "nouvelle cuisine" was coined to describe this newly emerging style.
Embracing the nouvelle cuisine trend, the restaurant completely revamped its menu and became one of the leading establishments in modern Western culinary trends. Mentioning l'Auberge du Pont de Collonges, also known as Paul Bocuse, immediately brings to mind a restaurant that laid the foundation for French cuisine during the transition from traditional to modern styles.
Eleven Madison Park - New York (USA)
Inside a world-renowned vegan restaurant.
In 2022, Eleven Madison Park was named among the Michelin-starred restaurants. Known as a high-end vegan restaurant, Eleven Madison Park has a long history dating back to 1998 and has weathered many ups and downs to maintain its current prestigious position.
This is the only vegan restaurant in the world to have earned three prestigious Michelin stars. Chef Daniel Humm shared: “While we always feel proud to earn awards, this one is even more meaningful as it helps shed light on the rich history of plant-based foods that have existed here and in cultures around the world. We hope that this moment creates an opportunity to make a meaningful impact on culture, communities and the future of our industry.”
An impressive dish launched by Daniel Humm in 2017.
Initially, it was just an upscale restaurant serving luxurious dishes. In 2017, Eleven Madison Park was voted the World's Best Restaurant, even before receiving its prestigious Michelin star. This demonstrates the restaurant's significant influence and the recognition it has received from numerous independent culinary review organizations worldwide.
But starting in 2021, a small revolution broke out when the chef and his associates decided to serve only a menu made with entirely plant-based ingredients, without using any animal-derived ingredients.
This decision sparked mixed reactions, but it is precisely because of it that Eleven Madison Park has become known as a unique and high-end destination in the vegan community.
It can be said that contemporary culinary trends are inseparable from the movement towards organic, locally grown, and vegan food, as well as a focus on simplifying food portions and elevating the flavor of dishes to the highest level. The three restaurants mentioned are excellent representatives of these trends, with impressive, innovative menus that profoundly influence the experience of their diners.
